December 19, 2012

Scripture:No pagan god is like you. None can do what you do!…You alone are God. – Psalm 86:8a, 10b

Observation:
When David prayed these words to God, he gave honor to the One who alone is God. David knew that there was no God but YHWH! The LORD put his Spirit upon David from the day he was anointed with oil by Samuel until the day he died. David enjoyed a personal relationship with the LORD himself although Jesus had not yet come. David couldn’t experience God per se as we do today, but he knew full well who the God of the universe was and declared to him and to the world that YHWH was (and still is) the only God!

Application:
What god has invaded your life? Is there someone you “idolize” or something you give more time to than YHWH?? When David wrote that there is no pagan god like God, he spoke of the hand-crafted idols people made of metal, stone or wood in their day. Today we have added plastic to that list, as far as material composition goes. However, there are still many pagan gods that compete with God for our love and devotion. Anything that takes the place of God in our lives is an idol. It can be a person, a thing, or even an idea. We are all guilty at one time or another of allowing something or someone to occupy the place in our lives and heart that rightfully belongs to the Father.

Throughout the psalms David made it perfectly clear that no idol made by hands can speak or hear or see or touch or smell or do anything for the person worshiping it. In fact he stated that people who worship idols become just like their idols – lifeless. Elsewhere in the OT we learn that behind every idol there is a demon at work. Idols don’t care about people. These “gods” demand enslavement and self-deprecation in order to serve them in contrast to God who loved us enough to give himself for us and and draws us to himself to be a Father to us. He wants to care for us and love us and provide us rather than take from us and demand from us like demons do.

So, what god are you serving? Are you serving the God of gods, or gods that are not God? No idol can do anything for us but enslave us and torture us. There is only one God, and he is YHWH (or Jehovah or Yahweh)! He alone is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. We are to worship him and him alone! Search your heart and see if there is an idol competing with God for your love and affection. If there is one, destroy it and be set free by God’s love for your through the power of his Spirit. God awaits your love and praise.

Prayer:
Father, what idol is there trying to woo me away from you? I know that our prayer time has not been what it has or should be. I have slacked off and allowed people and things to interfere with our intimacy and relationship. I hunger to be in your presence continually and to hear you talking to me and showing me your glory and love. I denounce any and all people and things that have occupied your rightful place atop the throne of my heart. You are my God, and you alone will I worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.